9 NOVEMBER 2002, Page 111

Q. My 'partner' and I have a joint income of

something over £500,000 a year. While not self-conscious about this, we sometimes worry about whether or not we are 'rich' and accordingly should feel rather guilty. Have you any criterion that can be applied to determine this question?

Name and address withheld A. The late Alan Clark and his friend Euan Graham coined the aphorism that 'one is

rich only if one has a full complement of indoor domestic staff while one's parents are still alive'. This may be applicable to your predicament.